Combustion system for turbine engines



May 31, 1949. R. E. HEALD 4 2,472,014

COMBUSTION SYSTEM FOR TURBINE ENGINES Filed Aug. 2, 1944 a sheets-sheet 1 19 fr-92H5 YS.

8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 2. 1944 May 3l, 1949. R. E. HEALD COMBUSTION SYSTEM FOR TURBINE ENGINES 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 2, 1944 May 31, 1949. R* E. HEALD 2,472,014

COMBUSTION SYSTEM FR TURBINE ENGINES Filed Aug. 2, 1944 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VENTOR.

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May 31, 1949. R. E. HEALD 2,472,014

COMBUSTION SYSTEM FR TURBINE ENGINES Filed Aug. 2. 1944 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 s s INVENTOR.

BY Kaw-APMM May 3l, 1949. R. E. HEALD COMBUSTION SYSTEM FOR TURBINE' ENGINES 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Aug. 2, 1944 INVENTOR. Paruamof/Yf/up,

Mug M May 31, 1949. R. E. HEALD COMBUSTION SYSTEM FOR TURBINE ENGINES 8 Shee'ts-Sheet '7 Filed Aug. 2, 1944 R. m m. V m

May 3l, 1949. R. E. HEALD COMBUSTION SYSTEM FOR TURBINE ENGINES 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Aug. 2, 1944 t o C .w O O O Mi @o MM 9.o o o w o 1N o hf. a Il I l/O W o o o o o /o o /o o P O /l/ O J o f l' o o l O of O O O O O O o o o m o Q o. l .JM ...r O \\\\O llalll JX. l 0\\ o o o X o o o o o o .A\\\ O WIM O O "o o o z.. o o O O O Patented May 3l, 1949 COMBUSTION SYSTEM FOR TURBINE ENGINES Raymond E. Heald, Plainiield, Ind.

Application August 2, 1944, Serial No. 547,796

l 18 Claims.

The present invention relates to a combustion system for turbine engines. The primary object of the invention is to provide means for supplying fluid under pressure to drive a turbine. To that end, I have provided an internal combustion system whereby suitable fuel may be burned in combustion chambers, the gaseous products of combustion being suitably conducted to the turbine wheel in a substantially constant iiow. The problem of controlling the temperature o! the combustion chambers is solved by supplying a iow of coolant, a considerable portion of which may. at least at times, be vaporized either inside or outside the combustion chambers, or both, in which case the vaporized coolant may be added to the stream of fluid under pressure supplied to the turbine wheel.

According to the basic principle of this invention, air is forced into a combustion cell under suflicient pressure to scavenge therefrom the products of combustion resulting from a previous combustion cycle. A cluster of such cells is preferably used in the system, the cycles of the respective cells being so related to each other that gases under pressure are always flowing from at least one cell into suitable receivers or collectors. At proper intervals, fuel is injected into the cells and there burned, water being preferably injected also to reduce the temperatures within the cells and to be converted into steam to swell the volume and pressure of gases produced in the cells. During the period of combustion, and preferably for a short time thereafter, the expanding gases and vapors pass out of each cell through a high pressure receiver into, for instance, the high pressure end of a turbine. The gases subsequently scavenged from each cell by the air blast mentioned above are forced through a low pressure receiver whence they may flow into the low pressure side of the same turbine or into a second turbine operating at a lower pressure.

In a suitable water jacket surrounding each o! the cells, steam is produced under sufficient pressure to add to the flow of vapor to the high pressure side of the turbine.

This alternating or intermittent cycle of combustion, and this production of steam to control temperature and to add to the power produced by the system are, I now believe, the predominating features of my invention, the particular means whereby they are effected being subject to some variation in detail.

The structure herein disclosed permits control oi the temperature of the gases supplied to the turbine by the step of generating steam. Preierably, the diy gases scavenged from the combustion cells will be used to reheat the steam emerging from the primary turbine, and this mixture of scavenged gases and reheated steam can then be introduced into the secondary turbine. In the secondary turbine, the steam will be cooled to (Substantially) the condensation p oint before it passes, with the exhaust gases, to suitable condensers.

Further objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, my invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that change may be made in the specic construction illustrated and described, so long as the scope of the appended claims is not violated.

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a combustion system constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 1a is an enlarged transverse section taken substantially on the line Ia-Ia of Fig. 1b;

Fig. lb is an enlarged section of the blower drive shown in Fig. 1, the section being taken substantially on the line Ib-ib of Fig. le;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the system illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmental bottom plan view thereof, parts being broken away for clarity of illustration;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged horizontal section, taken on the line 4--4 of Fig. l and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a similar section taken substantially on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a broken elevation of the inner cell of a combustion chamber, parts being broken away for clarity of illustration;

Fig. 6a is an enlarged vertical section of valve mechanism for controlling coolant flow;

Fig. 7 is a broken elevation of a shell adapted to be associated with the inner cell of F18. 6;

Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view of the shell of Fis. 7;

Fig. 9 is a transverse section through an outer cell forming a part of a combustion chamber;

Fig. 10 is a horizontal section taken substantially on the line lil-i0 oi' Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged fragmental vertical section through the upper portion of a combustion chamber, showing the water pump and associated parts:

Fig. l2 is a horizontal section taken substantially on the line |2|2 of Fig. ll; and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 13 is a similar section taken substantially on the line |6|6 of Fig. 11 and looking upward- 1y:

Fig. 14 is a similar section taken substantially on the line |4|4 of Fig. l1 and looking downwardly;

Fig. 15 is an enlarged frag-mental view of a portion of the mechanism as illustrated in Fig. 2, and showing more or less diagrammatically the various supply lines for the combustion chambers; and

Fig. 16 is a similar view showing other supply lines.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and la, it will be seen that I have illustrated a shaft 26 upon which is loosely mounted a fan rotor 2| within a housing element 22 having an inlet port 26. Associated with the housing element 22 is a casing 24 formed, in its wall remote from the housing .22, to support a bearing 26 f or an end of the shaft 26. Fixed to the shaft 26 within the casing 24 is a spider 26 having three arms and positioned beneath a ring gear 2 1 which is integral with, or fixed within, the casing 24. Each of the arms of the spider 26 mounts a shaft 3|, 32. or 66. The shaft 6| carries a pinion 26, adapted to mesh with the ring gear 21, and the shafts 62 and 66 similarly carry pinlons 26 and 66, likewise meshing with said ring gear 21. Fixed to the shaft 26 above the ring gear 21 is a similar spider 26' in the arms of which the shafts 6|, 62. and 66 are supported; and above the spider 26', the shaft 6| carries a pinion 64; while the shafts 62 and 66 carry similar pinlons 66 and 66. All of the pinions 34, 66, and 66 mesh with a gear 61 carried upon a collar 66 fixed to the fan rotor 2|, and Journalled in a bearing 66 carried in a closure plate 46 suitably secured inthe upper end of the casing 24 by means of bolts 4| or other equivalent fastening means.

It will be clear that the above-described gear train will produce rotation of the rotor 2| at a speed in excess of the speed of the shaft 26.

The lower end of the shaft 26 projects beyond the bearing 26 and is splined as at 42 for the reception of the splined hub 46 of a gear 44, for a purpose later to be described. The fan is provided with a plurality of substantially tangentially arranged outlets (Fig. 4) 46l 46, 41, and 46 leading to the combustion units 46, 66, 6|, and 62, as well as with a further outlet (not shown) leading to the unit 66 (see Fig. 2).

Each combustion unit consists of an outer cell and an inner cell, which inner cell includes a separately formed shell. The outer cell 64 (see Fig. 9) includes a base element 66, an intermediate element 66, and an upper element 61, secured together through the medium of bolts 66, or other equivalent fastening means. The intermediate element 66 is cut away at one side, as indicated at 66 in Fig. 16, for a purpose which will later be described. A shell 66 cooperates with the upper element 61 to form a chamber 6| with which communicate four ports 62 peripherally spaced 90 degrees from each other. The base element 66 includes a. frusto-conical bottom which is formed with four large ports 66 spaced 90 degrees from each other and with four smaller ports 64 spaced 90 degrees from each other and 45 degrees from the ports 66. The otherwise closed upper end of the upper element 61 is formed with four port holes 66 for a purpose later to appear.

The inner cell 66 (Fig. 6) comprises a casting 61 formed in its side Walls with four ports 66 adapted to register, at times, with the ports 62 of the outer cell 64. The frusto-conical base of the element 61 is formed with four ports 66, spaced degrees from each other, and adapted to register, alternatively, with the ports 66 and 64 of the outer cell 64.

Adjacent its upper end, a large number of small ports 16 open into a hollow space 1|, and communicate with grooves 12 axially arranged and extending to a level close to the base of the frustaconical portion of the cell. Said frusto-conical portion of the cell is substantially hollow, providing a space 16 the upper end of which communicates, through bored holes, with the bases of the grooves 12. and the lower end of which communicates, through suitable ports 11, with a passage 16 leading out through the hub 16 at the bottom of the cell. A similar hub 14 at the top of the cell is spilned as at 16 and is formed with an axial passage 16 communicating, through a plurality of ports 16', with the interior of the space 'I Ribs 66 and 6| interrupt the grooves 12, extending into the level of the ridges between said grooves, to 4guard the ports 66 and 66.

The ports 16' are formed between reinforcing ribs 62. Short cylindrical conduits 66 are adapted to register, at times, with the port holes 66 of the outer cell, and communicate with the interior of the inner cell. Bullies 64 may preferably be positioned within the chamber 1| to assure even distribution of the liquid discharged through the ports 16', and flowing to and through the ports 16,

A shell 66 (Fig. '1) is adapted to be sleeved over the inner cell 66 and to cooperate with the ridges between the groves 12 and with the guards 66 and 6 i, to convert the grooves 12 into closed conduits adapted to conduct fluid from the ports 16 to the hollow chamber 16 formed in the bottom portion of the inner cell. The shell 66 comprises a cylindrical sleeve 66 provided with a plurality of ports 61 adapted to register precisely with the ports 66; and said sleeve is provided with a peripheral gear ring 66, which may be integral with said sleeve, or which may be fixedly secured thereto. The internal surface 66 of the sleeve 66 is designed to fit snugly upon the surfaces of the ridges defining the grooves 12. and of the guards 66 and 6|: and after the sleeve 66 is assembled with the inner cell 66, it will be permanently secured thereto, as by shrinking, brazing, or perhaps welding, so that the conduits formed by the thus-closed grooves 12 will be steam tight.

The elements of the outer cell 64 being disassembled, the inner cell comprising the element 66 wearing its shell 66. is entered in the lower element 66 of the outer cell. The lower hub 16 of the inner cell, of course, will be journalled in the hub 66 of the outer cell, and the gear 66 will substantially rest upon the upper surface of the element 66. The elements 56 and 61 are now associated with the element 66. the gear 66 projecting outwardly through the cut away portion 66 of the element 66, and the hub 14 being Journalled in the bearing 6| in the upper wall oi' the upper element 61 of the outer cell 64. 'Ihus the it-ier cell is rotatably mounted within the outer c A water pump, indicated generally by the referenee numeral 62. is illustrated in detail in Figs. 11 to 14. The pump comprises a base plate 66 seated on the top surface of each outer cell 64, a body 64, and a cap or cover units 66, said units being secured together and to the cell 34 by means of a plurality o! bolts 99, or other equivalent iastening means. The plate 93 is formed with four ports 91, peripherally spaced 90 degrees apart. The upper portion oi' the outer cell 94 is formed to provide a chamber 99 with which communicates 'a water supply line 99: and the ports 91 register with ports |99 leading into said chamber 93.

Journalled at their lower ends in the plate 93 are four pumping pinions |92, each mounted in a chamber |93 formed in the body 94, each of said chambers having communication with a central chamber |94 within which is rotatably mounted a pump gear |95 spllned on the hub 14 of the inner cell. Each or the chambers |93 communicates with one of the ports 91 in the plate 93, and communicates also with a port |99 in the cap 95 communicating with a passage |91 in said cap, each of said passages |91 having a mouth |98 opening into a central chamber in the cap registering with the passage 19 formed in the associated'inner cell hub 14.

Assuming rotation of the inner cell 66 in a clockwise direction as viewed from above, the gear |95 will be thereby carried in a counter clockwise direction as seen in Fig. 13 to produce clockwise rotation of the pinions |92, as seen in that ligure. Such rotation of the pinions |92 will carry liquid from the ports 91 to the ports |99 and discharge the same through the passages |91 and ports |99 into the passage 16, whence such liquid can flow through the ports 16 into the chamber 1|, thence through the ports 19 and grooves 12 to and through the passage 13 and into the passage 19 in the inner cell hub 19.

At times, as will appear hereinafter, it is desirable to prevent or retard iiow in the above-described path. The cap 95 is formedwith a neck |99 providing a vertical bore ||9 in which is reciprocably mounted a piston valve Under normal conditions, said valve occupies the position illustrated in Fig. 11, being held in that position by a spring ||2 whose degree of compression is adjustable through the medium of a plug ||3 adiustably threadedly mounted in the threaded portion ||4 of the bore ||9. A closure cap ||5 seals the chamber or bore ||9, but the plug H3 and closure cap ||5 are provided with ports ||6 and ||1 providing communication with the interior oi' the bore ||9. A conduit H9 (see Fig. 1) leads from a suitable point in the high pressure line and is connected in the port ||1 oi the cap H9, whereby the water pressure required to raise the valve will exceed the currently-existing pressure in the high pressure supply line to the turbine by an amount measured by the current degree of compression of the spring ||2.

When the valve is lifted, it opens passages ||9 whose mouths |29 communicate with the chambers |93, thereby providing a short circuit circulation for the pump mechanism.

Flow through the above-described normal cir Y cuit will be controlled primarily by the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 6a. The bore 13 in the hub 19 will preferably be internally threaded for the reception of a valve housing |2| in the upper end of which is xed a bellows |22 oi the type which is responsive to temperature variations. Said bellows carries a piston valve |23 formed with ports |24, the unit being so constructed that, when the bellows |22 is contracted. the ports |24 are out of registry with the chamber 13, whereby flow from said chamber to the hub bore 19 is prevented. It will be seen that the bellows i2 is so positioned 6 Y as to be subjected to temperature conditions existing within the combustion cell. An increase in temperature tends to expand the bellows to shift the ports |24 into registry with the chamber 13 Vto permit flow through the above-described circuit. It is to be particularly noted that the valve construction is such that the bellows |22, while not ailected by pressure conditions existing within the combustion cell, is nevertheless subject to the eilect of pressure conditions existing within the bore 19 oi the hub 19 of the cell. That is, pressure within that bore is applied directly to the lower end of the valve |23, thus tending to collapse the bellows |22, in opposition to the effect of high temperature upon the bellows.

An injector unit oi.' substantially standard construction is indicated generally by the reference numeral |25 in Figs. 1 and 2. Said unit comprises four banks of pumps |39, |32, |34, and |29. Each pump bank is provided with ilve outlet pipes. In Fig. 1, the outlets |31, |31a, |31b, |310, and |31d are illustrated. In Fig. 2, I have illustrated one outlet pipe |3| for the bank |39, one outlet pipe |33 for the bank |32, and one outlet.pipe |35 for the bank |34, but it is to be understood that each of said banks |39, |32, and |34 is provided with five separate outlet pipes just as is the bank |36.

The injector unit |25 may be mounted upon a suitable bracket |26 at the upper end of the cell cluster. The gear |21 fixed to the shaft 29 (see Figs. 1 and 2) meshes with an idler |29 which meshes with one gear |29 of the injector unit |25. As is apparent from an inspection of Fig. 2, the particular `gear |29 shown in mesh with the gear |29 drives the pump bank |32; but all of the gears |29 are in meshed relation, so that this arrangement produces a drive of the pumps of all four banks |39, |32, |34, and |36. The operation of the injector unit |25 need not be described in detail, since it is well understood in the art.

The various pipes leading from the injector unit may be enclosed in a suitable manifold or conduit, and will lead to the individual cells of the cluster in the fashion diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 15. In order to avoid undue complication of the illustration, I have shown only fuel lines associated with the right-hand cell in Fig. 15; only water lines associated with the intermediate cell; and only ignition lines associated with the left-hand cell in that figure; but it is to be understood that all three of these lines will lead from the above-mentioned manifold to each of the ilve cells of the cluster.

According to the arrangement selected for illustration, the injector banks |32 and |34 will pump fuel, while the injector banks |39 and |39 will pump water. Associated with the ports 99 of each of the cells in the cluster are adapter plates constructed to accommodate connections for supplying the combustion cells, said plates comprising means for closing the port holes against the atmosphere. Thus, such adapter plates |39. |39, |40, and |4| are shown associated with the right-hand cell in Fig. 15.

The pipe |33 is split as it leaves the manifold into branches |33' and |33" which are led, respectively, to the connection |42 of the adapter plate |38 and the connection |43 of the adapter plate |39. Similarly, the pipe |35 is split as it leaves the manifold into branches |35' and |35" connected, respectively, to the connection |44 ot adapter plate |49 and the connection |45 of the adapter plate |4|. Those connections, |42, |43,

7 |44, and |46 may support spray nozzles, so that, by the means above described. fuel will be intermittently sprayed under pressure into the inner cell of the chamber illustrated at the right in Fig. l5, through the four port holes 66 and' through the conduits a3, as those conduits come into registry with the port holes 66.

Although it is not illustrated, it will be understood that the pipes |630, |3311, ille, lud, and the pipes |3511, |35b, Iic, and lud are similarly branched for similar connection to the corresponding nozzles of the adapter plates oi the other four combustion chambers, so that fuel is supplied through tour nozzles to each of the combustion chambers in turn.

Metered quantities of water are likewise fed to the interior of each of the combustion charnbers. Thus, the pipe |3I, as it leaves the manifold, is split into four branches ISI', Ill", ill'", and lll, which branches are connected respectively to connections |56, I6i, |62, and |53 of the adapter plates |46, |41, |46, and |46. The said connections may preferably be provided with spray nozzles; and it will be understood that the pipes lala, |3|b, |3|c, and lild are similarly branched to supply water in a similar fashion to the other four cells of the cluster.

I believe it to be desirable also to supply water independently to the lower portion of each oi the combustion chambers. I have therefore provided each of the outer cells 64 with a plurality of ports |54 (see Fig. 9) adjacent its base, these ports being in peripheral registry with the ports 63 in the base of the cell. As will be apparent from an inspection of Fig. 6, the ports 69 in the base of each inner cell extend beyond the periphery of the cell base and up into the cylindrical portion oi the cell. When the inner cells are assembled with the outer cells, these upward projections oi the ports 69 extend pied by the inner ends of the ports |64 of the outer cell, thereby providing intermittent communication between the ports |54 and the interior of the combustion chamber as the inner cell is rotated.

Water is supplied to the ports |54 by the in- Jector bank |36. The` pipe |31 is split into branches |31', |31", |31"', and |31", which branches cross the upper end of the chamber and are led down the sides thereof to the respective ports |54.

Preferably enclosed are thc electrical leads |55, |55', |55", and |65'" which lead to suitable ignlting devices carried by the adapter plates, as at |56, |51, |66, and |59.

The coolant for the combustion chambers is led from a suitable source oi' supply through a manifold such as |66 (see Fig. 16) having branches I6| which terminate in the conduits 89 (see Figs. 16 and 11).

Associated with the cell cluster is a hood I6! secured to a suitably formed block |16 to deiine a chamber I1| from which leads the high pressure supply line |68. A collector box |66 is mounted Within the chamber |1|, but has no communication therewith, said collector box having a plurality of collector tubes |65, each of which terminates in a spider |63 having four arms lector box |66, whence such gases are led through the low pressure supply line |61. It will be clear into the horizontal plane cocu-- within the same manifold 8 from an inspection of Figs. 1 and 3 that the ports 63 and the passages 16 discharge directly into the high pressure collector chamber 1|.

In Fig. 1, I have shown an oil pump Ill driven from the main shaft 20 for providing pressure in a suitable lubricating system, the details o! which are not illustrated, since they form no part ol the present invention.

Suitable means, such as an electric motor adapted to be energized either from an external source or from a generator driven by the turbine which is supplied by the present combustion system, is provided for driving the main shaft 20. As said shaft is rotated, the fan 2| will be rotated at a higher speed to supply air under pressure to the chambers 6| of the various cells of the cluster. The gear 44 will likewise be driven and, through its mesh with the gears B6 of the various inner cells, will cause continuous rotation of thon inner cells. The operation of all o! the combustion chambers will be the same, although the cycles thereof will be so timed that there will always be at least one chamber discharging Bases into the high pressure receiver 1| and at least one chamber discharging gases into the low pressure receiver |66.

In each such chamber, as the inner cell rotates, the following cycle will occur. The ports Il begin to register with the ports 64 just before the ports 68 come into registry with the ports 6I. Air under pressure, supplied from the Ian 2| and standing in the chamber 6|, rushes through the ports 62 and 66 to scavcnge the combustion chamber, flowing out through the ports 64 and the branches |64 of the spider |63 to thelow pressure receiver |66, and thence through the conduit |61. As the inner cell continues to rotate, the ports 66 close the ports 64 and thereafter the ports 66 close the ports 62, whereby the chamber is left full of air under pressure.

Now the ports 69 begin to move into registry with the ports 63, and the conduits 83 open the interior of the inner cell to the port holes 66 and the connections associated therewith. Fuel injection begins, against the air pressure existing within the combustion chamber, and the fuel is ignited as it begins to flow into the combustion chamber. Water injection through the branches of the pipe |3| will begin at some time after fuel ignition. The combustion of the fuel will result in an enormous increase in pressure in the cham` ber and in a rapid rise of temperature, which temperature rise is retarded by the injection oi' water which, because of the high temperature, will be converted into steam which will Join the stream of products of combustion ilowing through the ports 63 into the high pressure receiver |1| and thence through the conduit |66. The ports |54 will likewise be opened to permit a iiow of water into the combustion chamber through the branches of the pipe |31. Ii and when the temperature within the combustion chamber rises to a value, relative to the pressure existing in the receiver IH, such as to move the valve |23 to bring its ports |24 into registry with the passage 13, water from the cooling system will also be injected into the receiver |1| as high pressure steam` At a suitable instant after fuel injection is terminated, the ports 68 will move out of registry with the ports 63, thus entrapping gases under high pressure within the chamber.

Now. the ports 69 move again into registry with the ports 64 to relieve that high pressure just before the ports 62 are opened by the ports 66 to admit air under pressure to scavenge the burned gases from the chamber.

It will be seen that these two steps cnplete one cycle oi' the combustion system, and that four auch cycles occur during each rotation of the inner cell.

I claim as my invention:

1. A combustion system comprising a stationary outer cell, a cell mounted for rotation within said stationary cell, said outer cell being formed to provide an even number of outlet ports arranged in an annular series, said inner cell being formed to provide one-half as many outlet ports adapted to move into and out of registry with said outer cell outlet ports as said inner cell rotaten, a high pressure receiver, a low pressure receiver. one-half said outer cell outlet ports being arranged to discharge into said high pressure receiver and the other half thereof being arranged to discharge into said low pressure receiver, means for rotating said inner cell, and means. including separate inlet ports in said irmer and outer cells, for intermittently injecting a mixture o! fuel and air into said inner cell and there igniting such mixture.

2. A combustion system comprising a stationary outer cell, a cell mounted for rotation within said stationary cell, said outer cell being formed to provide an even number of outlet ports arranged in an annular series, said inner cell bein! formed to provide one-half as many outlet ports adapted to move into and out of registry with said outer cell outlet ports as said inner cell rotates, a high pressure receiver, a low pressure receiver, one-half said outer cell outlet ports being arranged to discharge into said high pressure receiver and the other half thereof being arranged to discharge into said low pressure receiver, means for rotating said inner cell, means i'or supplying air under pressure to a collecting chamber associated with said outer cell, said outer cell being provided with an annular series of inlet ports communicating with said collecting chamber, said inner cell being provided with at least one inlet port in addition to its said outlet ports and movable, upon rotation of said inner cell, into and out oi' registry with said outer chamber inlet ports, means for injecting fuel into said inner cell as said inner cell inlet port moves out of registry with an outer cell inlet port, and means for igniting such fuel as it flows into said cell.

3. For use in a combustion system, a substantially cylindrical cell providing a single combustion chamber having a plurality of perlpheraliyspaced inlet ports adjacent one end for the admission of fuel and scavenging duid thereto and a plurality of peripherally-spaced outlet ports at its opposite end i'or the expulsion of the products oi combustion, said cell further being fonned to provide an independent chamber at its firstnamed end having a plurality of inlet ports for the admission of a duid coolant thereto, a plurality of ports opening from said independent chamber through the peripheral wall thereof, and a plurality oi axially-extending grooves, one for each of said last-named ports, formed in the peripheral surface of said cell, said last-named ports providing a means of communication from said independent chamber to said axially-extending grooves.

4. For use in a combustion system, the combination with a substantially cylindrical cell providing a combustion chamber having a plurality oi' peripherally-spaced inlet ports adjacent one end for the admission oi fuel and scavenging fuel thereto and a plurality oi peripherally-spaced outlet ports at its opposite end for the expulsion of the products of combustion, said cell further being formed to provide an independent chamber at its first-named end having a plurality of inlet ports for the admission of a fluid coolant thereto, a plurality of ports opening from said independent chamber through the peripheral wall thereof, and a plurality of axially-extending grooves, one for each of said last-named ports, formed in the peripheral surface of said cell, oi a cylindrical ,shell externally sleeved on said cell, and closely engaging the peripheral surface thereof to convert each of said grooves into a steam-tight passage,

o said shell being formed with ports registering with said inlet ports of said cell.

5. For use in a combustion system, the combination with a substantially cylindrical cell providing a combustion chamber having a plurality of peripherally-spaced inlet ports adjacent one end for the admission of fuel and scavenging duid thereto and a plurality oi' peripherally-spaced outlet ports at its opposite end for the expulsion of the products of combustion, said cell further being formed to provide an independent chamber at its first-named end having a plurality of inlet ports for the admission of a duid coolant thereto, a plurality of ports opening from said independent chamber through the peripheral wall thereof, and a plurality of axially-extending grooves. one for each of said last-named ports. formed in the peripheral surface of said cell, of a cylindrical shell externally sleeved on said cell, and closely engaging the peripheral surface thereof to convert each oi said grooves into a steam-tight passage, said shell being formed with ports registering with said inlet ports of said cell, and an external gear ilxed to said shell intermediate its ends.

6. For use in a combustion system, a substantially cylindrical cell having axially-projecting hubs at its opposite ends, said cell being i'ormed to provide a combustion chamber and to provide further an independent chamber at one end of said cell, the hub at said one end of said cell being formed with a bore communicating with said independent chamber, to provide for the admission of a duid coolant thereto, a plurality of ports opening from said independent chamber through the peripheral wail thereof, a plurality of axially-extending grooves, one for each of said last-named ports, formed in the peripheral surface of said cell, said last-named ports providing a means of communication from said independent chamber to said axially-extending grooves, the wall at the other end of said cell being hollow and terminating, at the periphery of said cell, in a shoulder projecting radially beyond said cell periphery, a plurality of ports opening into said hollow end wall, one from each of a number of said grooves, and the hub at said other end of said cell being formed with a bore, communicating with the hollow in said last-named wall, the passageways formed thereby providing a means for exhausting a duid.

7. For use in a combustion system, a substantially cylindrical cell having axially-projecting hubs at its opposite ends, said cell being formed to 'provide a combustion chamber and to provide further an independent chamber at one end of said cell, the hub at said one end of said cell being formed with a bore communicating with said independent chamber, to provide for the admission of a duid coolant thereto, a plurality of ports opening from said independent chamber through the peripheral wall thereof, a plurality of axially-extending grooves, one for each oi' said last-named ports, formed in the peripheral surface ci said cell, said last-named ports providing a means of communication from said independent chamber to said axially-extending grooves, the wall at the other end of said cell being hollow and terminating, at the periphery of said cell, in a shoulder projecting radially beyond said cell periphery, a plurality of ports opening into said hollow end wall, one from each of a number of said grooves, and the hub at said other end of said cell being formed with a bore, communicating with the hollow in said last-named wall, the passageways being formed thereby providing a means for exhausting said coolant, and a shell externally sleeved on said cell closely engaging the peripheral surface thereof to convert said grooves into steamtight passages connecting said independent chamber with said hollow end wall, and resting on said shoulder.

8. For use in a combustion system, a substantially cylindrical cell having axially-projecting hubs at its opposite ends, said cell being formed to provide a combustion chamber and to provide further an independent chamber at one end of said cell, the hub at said one end of said cell being formed with a bore communicating with said independent chamber, to provide for the admission of a iluid coolant thereto, a plurality oi' ports opening from said independent chamber through the peripheral wall thereof, a plurality of axiallyextending grooves, one for each of said lastnamed ports, formed in the peripheral surface of `said cell, said last-named ports providing a means of communication from said independent chamber to said axially-extending grooves, the wall at the other end of said cell being hollow and terminating, at the periphery of said cell, in a shoulder projecting radially beyond said cell periphery, a plurality oi ports opening into said hollow end wall, one from each of a number of said grooves, and the hub at said other end of said cell being formed with a bore, communicating with the hollow in said last-named wall, the passageways being formed thereby providing a means for exhausting said coolant, a shell externally sleeved on said cell, closely engaging the peripheral sur-- face thereof to convert said grooves into steamtight passages connecting said independent chamber with said hollow end wall, and resting on said shoulder, and valve means vcontrolling flow between the hollow in said end Wall and the bore of said last-named hub.

9. For use in a combustion system, a substantially cylindrical cell having axially-projecting hubs at its opposite ends, said cell being formed to provide a combustion chamber and to provide further an independent chamber at one end of said cell, the hub at said one end of said cell being formed with a bore communicating with said independent chamber, to provide for the admission of a uid coolant thereto, a plurality oi' ports opening from said independent chamber through the peripheral wall thereof, a plurality of axiallyextending grooves, one for each of said lastnamed ports, formed in the peripheral surface of said cell, said last-named ports providing a means of communication from said independent chamber to said axially-extending grooves, the wall at the other end of said cell being hollow and terminating, at the periphery of said cell, in a shoulder projecting radially beyond said cell periphery, a plurality of ports opening into said hollow end wall, one from each o! a number of said grooves, and the hub at said other end of said cell being formed with a bore, communicating with the hollow in said last-named wall, the passageways being formed thereby providing a means for exhausting said coolant, a shell externally sleeved on said cell, closely engaging the peripheral surface thereof to convert said grooves into steam-tight passages connecting said independent chamber with said hollow end wall, and resting on said shoulder, and valve means controlling i'low between the hollow in said end wall and the bore of said last named hub, said valve means being movable under the influence of a temperature rise in said combustion chamber to open communication for such ilow.

10. The structure recited in claim 6 in which said cell is further provided with a plurality of peripherally spaced inlet ports in its peripheral wall adjacent its iirst-named end, a plurality of peripherally-spaced inlet conduits in its firstnamed end, penetrating but not communicating with said independent chamber to provide a means for injecting fuel to said cell, and a plurality of exhaust ports in its hollow end wall penetrating but not communicating with the hollow in said wall.

11. The structure recited in claim 9 and including means for supplying a flow of coolant liquid continuously to the bore of said iirstnamed hub.

12. The structure recited in claim 9 and including a continuously operating pump drawing a supply of liquid coolant from a source thereof and supplying the same under pressure to the bore of said first-named hub, and by-pass means responsive to pressure conditions in said bore for returning such liquid to the inlet side of such pump.

13. In a combustion system, an outer cell, an inner cell rotatably mounted in said outer cell and formed to provide a combustion chamber, means for intermittently charging said chamber with air under pressure, means for intermittently injecting liquid fuel into said chamber to mix with such charge of air, means for igniting such fuel as it ows into said chamber, a receiver, means for passing the products of such combustion under pressure into said receiver, and means for supplying a ilow of coolant liquid between said inner and outer cells. said last-named means including valve means responsive to the ratio between current temperature within said combustion chamber and current pressure within said receiver.

14. A combustion system including a cluster of combustion units, each of said units including a combustion chamber, means for successively charging said chambers with air under pressure, means for injecting sprayed liquid fuel into each of said chambers after so charging the same, means for igniting such fuel as it iiows into each of such units, a high pressure receiver, means for releasing the products of such combustion to said receiver, means for breaking communication between said receiver and each combustion chamber, a low pressure receiver, means for subsequently providing communication between each of said combustion chambers and said low pressure receiver, and means for supplying air under pressure to each of said combustion chambers while such communicationfis continued to scavenge such combustion chamber.

15. A combustion system including a cluster ci combustion units, each of said units including a combustion chamber, means for successively charging said chambers with air under pressure, means for injecting sprayed liquid fuel into each of said chambers at a plurality of spaced points in such chamber after so charging the same. means for igniting such fuel as it iiows into each of such units, means for injecting sprayed water into each of said chambers during combustion of such fuel therein, a high pressure receiver, means for releasing the products of such combustion to such receiver before the combustion of such fuel is completed, means for breaking communication between said receiver and each combustlon chamber, a low pressure receiver, means for subsequently providing communication between each of said combustion chambers and said low pressure receiver, and means for supplying air under pressure to each of said combustion chambers while such communication is continued to scavenge such combustion chamber.

16. A combustion system including a cluster of combustion units, each of said units including a combustion chamber, means for successively charging said chambers with air under pressure, means for injecting sprayed liquid fuel into each oi' said chambers at a plurality of spaced points in such chamber after so charging the same, means for igniting such fuel as it flows into each of such units, means for injecting sprayed water `into each of said chambers at a plurality of spaced points in such chamber during combustion of such fuel therein, a high pressure receiver, means for releasing the products of such combustion to said receiver before the combustion of such fuel is completed, means for breaking communication between said receiver and each combustion chamber, a low pressure receiver, means for subsequently providing communication between each of said combustion chambers and said low pressure receiver, and means for supplying air under pressure to each of said combustion chambers while such communication is continued to scavenge such combustion chamber.

17. In a combustion system, a combustion unit comprising a stationary outer cell, a generally cylindrical hollow inner cell formed to provide in its interior a combustion chamber and mounted for rotation within said stationary cell, a means for providing a source of air under pressure to said unit, a second means for providing a source of liquid fuel under pressure to s'aid unit, a high pressure receiver, a low pressure receiver, means for rotating said inner cell, means providing an air inlet port in the inner periphery of said outer cell continuously communicating with said first means, a fuel inlet port in one end of said outer cell continuously communicating with said second means, a high pressure exhaust port in the other end of said outer cell continuously communicating with a high pressure receiver, and a low pressure exhaust port independent of said high pressure exhaust port and located in the same end of said outer cell continuously communicating with a low pressure receiver, an inlet opening extending from the periphery of said inner cell into said combustion chamber and movable, as said cell rotates, into and out of registry with said air inlet port, an outlet opening extending from the exterior of said inner cell adjacent said second-named end into said combustion chamber and angularly spaced from the position of said inlet opening to move, as said innercell rotates, into and out of registry with said low pressure exhaust port just ahead of the registration of said inlet opening with said air inlet port, said outlet opening next moving, as cell rotation continues, into registry with said high pressure exhaust port, a fuel inlet opening leading from the exterior of said inner cell adjacent said first-named end into said combustion chamber and axially disposed opposite said outlet opening, said fuel inlet opening being movable, as said inner cell rotates, into registry with said fuel inlet port just after said outlet opening registers with said high pressure exhaust port and out of regstry with said fuel inlet port just before said outlet opening moves out of registry with said high pressure exhaust port, means in said inner cell for igniting fuel therein and means for energizing the igniting means as said fuel inlet opening registers with said fuel inlet port.

18. The structure recited in claim 1'1 including a source or liquid coolant under pressure. a coolant inlet port in said second-named end of said outer cell continuously communicating with said coolant source. said coolant inlet port being independent of and located near said high pressure exhaust port to register with said outlet opening when said exhaust port and said outlet opening come into registry, whereby coolant under pressure is forced into said combustion chamber during the combustion step after energization of said igniting means.

RAYMOND E. HEALD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 694,090 Clayden Feb. 25, 1902 1,988,456 Lysholm Jan. 22, 1935 2,074,602 Wilstram Mar. 23, 1937 

